Dinagat, Philippines

History

Founded under the order of Governor-General Manuel Crespo as a pueblo on April 25, 1855, the municipality is the oldest of the whole province. Settlers from Leyte, Bohol, and Surigao built their homes along the coast of what is now the poblacion of the town. According to sources, the first families to settle in the town were Ga, Ventura, Ecunar, Gealogo, Jarligo, Geraldino, Ensomo, Gier, and Eviota. However the pueblo is on constant risk of being attacked by Moro pirates from mainland Mindanao. It even reached to the point that they managed to steal the bell of the Immaculada Concepcion Parish, the only church in the town then, and dumped it in a well situated on what is now sitio Busay in Barangay New Mabuhay. But the Moro pillaging was eventually stopped by the first gobernadorcillo of the town, Pedro Ga Ventura, along with his brother Leon through estukada or fencing using linantip, a variety of bolo. They were considered by local historians as the first hero of the whole province.

The population of the town began to rapidly grow after World War II. The local economy flourished and birth rates were high with more people coming from Surigao coming to the town to settle down. Elementary and secondary schools were built in the area and later on ports and improved infrastructures were also built in the town.

From the History section of Dinagat, Dinagat Islands on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.